Yalda Solstice Celebration: Welcoming the Light Through Poetry, Music, and Community

Winter solstice marks the longest night of the year, the final night of autumn, is a celestial moment, a sacred pause before the days grow longer and brighter. The ancient celebration of winter solstice, Yalda, honors this transition as the triumph of light over darkness and the metaphorical birth of the sun. For centuries, Persians have been gathering on this night to celebrate winter solstice with loved ones, through storytelling and poetry-centered rituals, feasting on symbolic offerings of nature’s bounty—pomegranates, persimmons, nuts, and dried fruits—all embodying the spirit of the seasons. This Yalda, we invite you to join us for a night of poetry, storytelling, music, community, and divination. 

Poetry is a significant part of the Yalda celebration. On this night, we receive guidance and insight from the words of poets who came before us. One tradition significant to Yalda is Hafez’s poetry readings or “faal”, where we connect to Hafez’s divine spirit and open the timeless verses of his book of poems, Diwan, seeking guidance and insight. Hafez, the poet of the soul, constantly reminds us to return to the essence of love, the heart, where all truth resides.

ما بدین در نه پِیِ حشمت و جاه آمده‌ایم

 از بد حادثه این جا به پناه آمده‌ایم

رهروِ منزلِ عشقیم و زِ سرحدِّ عَدَم

 تا به اقلیمِ وجود این همه راه آمده‌ایم

We did not come here [to this earth] to seek status or fortune.

By some twist of fate, we have sought refuge here.

Travelers on the path of love,

Journeying from the farthest borders of nothingness

To the realm of existence

love is our only destination. 

This winter solstice, we are bringing the spirit of Yalda to the teahouse. To pay homage to the rhythms of nature, join us in enjoying Yalda festivities; a spread of traditional Yalda treats, and a night of poetry and storytelling. We invite you to bring a poem, written words, or any piece that speaks to you. This can be in any language, with a translation or explanation. We also welcome instruments, jam sessions, song performances, poetry books, and musical offerings.

This evening is created in collaboration with Helia Sadeghi of Big Dill Kitchen. Helia is an Iranian food artist, poet, and writer whose work explores the storytelling power of food. Her offerings pay homage to the sights and flavors of her homeland and celebrate food as a vessel for connection. Deeply rooted in the earth’s rhythms, Helia creates nourishment that tells stories of belonging, memory, and place.

This space is welcome to people of all backgrounds!

Extending a special invitation to the SWANA community to take 15% off with code "SWANAYALDA". These spots will be available on a first come, first served basis, so if the code is not working, the spaces have been filled. This discount is also offered on an honor system basis. If you do not identify as someone of Southwest Asian or North African descent, please respect this effort to make this cultural celebration more accessible to the communities that it comes from.